Otaniemi upper secondary school

The ABC of Baltic Sea Literacy

Espoo, Finland

3rd FUNDING CALL

The Baltic Sea is a unique and vital ecosystem that deserves our attention and understanding. However, marine knowledge and literacy are often missing from high school curriculums, leaving students with limited exposure to the complexities of their surrounding marine environment. To bridge this gap, our project, “The ABC of Baltic Sea Literacy,” aims to create a ready-made task package for high school students and teachers to use in Baltic Sea ecology field courses.

This initiative, developed in collaboration with teachers, researchers, and students, seeks to enhance marine literacy through hands-on learning experiences. By providing standardised educational materials, we hope to inspire schools across Finland to incorporate marine studies into their teaching programs.

Objectives of the Project

The primary goal of our project is to develop an accessible and engaging Baltic Sea ABC task package. This package will serve as a comprehensive educational tool for high school teachers and students, helping them to conduct meaningful field studies on marine ecology. Our specific objectives include:

• Creating high-quality task cards that guide students through ecological sampling and biodiversity studies.
• Providing teachers with the necessary materials and training to facilitate Baltic Sea field courses.
• Standardising field course content across different schools, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to marine education.
• Making the educational materials freely available online for all Finnish high schools via Lukemaverkosto.fi.

Activities and Collaborations

The project is structured around a series of collaborative activities involving teachers, students, and marine researchers. Key activities include:

1. Task Card Development (Spring 2025): Teachers from Otaniemi High School will work together to create the initial set of task cards. These will include hands-on activities such as plankton sampling, fish identification, marine litter analysis, and biodiversity assessments.
2. Teachers’ Field Course (April 27–29, 2025): A dedicated training program at Tvärminne Zoological Station will equip 20 teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to implement the task package effectively.
3. Student Field Courses (Fall 2025): Three pilot courses will take place at Tvärminne Zoological Station:
   • August 20–22, 2025: One group (20 students + 2 teachers)
   • September 15–17, 2025: Two groups (40 students + 4 teachers)
4. During these courses, students will test the task cards, provide feedback, and engage in hands-on marine research.
5. Finalising and Publishing Materials (December 2025): Based on feedback from the pilot programs, the task package will be refined and made available to schools via Lukemaverkosto.fi.

Outputs and Impact

The ABC of Baltic Sea Literacy will result in a well-structured educational resource that supports both teachers and students. Key outputs include:

• A comprehensive task package with activity guides, sample analyses, and teacher instructions.
• A training program for teachers to enhance their confidence in delivering marine ecology lessons.
• An online repository on Lukemaverkosto.fi for free and open access to all Finnish high schools.

The impact of this project is far-reaching. By providing structured materials and professional training, we aim to:

Encourage long-term conservation efforts by instilling a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the Baltic Sea.

Increase marine literacy among high school students, fostering a deeper understanding of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.

Empower teachers with the tools they need to conduct engaging and informative field courses.

Standardise marine education across different schools, ensuring all students receive quality ecological training.